In November, we are packing our suitcases once again to fly to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and from there on to Sodo. This time, there are five of us.
As the years have passed, 120 students are no longer in primary school: they have grown into young people who need supportive discussions and encouragement. They study without tables, chairs, or electricity, and often on an empty stomach, yet the results exceed all expectations. This wonderful process has become a reality thanks to consistent support and the children’s own understanding that their future lives—both personally and on a societal level—depend on knowledge and wisdom.
The giver gives and the receiver accepts with all their heart to achieve the best result. As always, we provide the children with a full year’s supply of clothes, shoes, textbooks, and school bags. We order new school uniforms and, if necessary, new mattresses for the families. Each trip always brings a fresh focus.
For the past few years, Ethiopia has been in a complex political situation, torn by civil war and unrest. Universities in Northern Ethiopia are closed, and students across the country face obstacles in their studies. Many students have reached the starting point to begin their dream lives at university and later find their first jobs. A job guarantees food for the entire family and support for the tuition fees of younger siblings.
A completely new challenge at the end of this year is the construction of a dormitory for girls whose homes are a three-hour walk from the nearest schoolhouse. We received this special task this spring when Joonatan Lepik and Martin Ruumet visited the Mana and Mansha tribes. Despite living conditions that seem impossible, there is hope and determination in the eyes of these families; their only longing is to have the opportunity to study at school. The state lacks the resources to build schools in inaccessible villages, and for the children, a three-hour hike is too long to manage the journey to school and back home in a single day. This prompted us to find the means, with the help of Estonians, to build a dormitory.
